Marketing doesn’t have to be about full page ads in your local newspaper or giant billboards around your community. There are places for those things in certain circumstances, but there’s also room in your marketing plan for grassroots initiatives. Here are three easy ways to stretch your marketing budget.
- Take advantage of free publicity. It’s FREE! Not only is it free, but it assists in building credibility and awareness of your brand. Look for opportunities to become more involved in community activities and with local charitable organizations. Do it first because you believe in it and reap the secondary benefits from the exposure you’ll receive.
- Take advantage of speaking opportunities. Almost every organization in your community is looking for a speaker for their monthly meetings. Identify which organizations appeal to your target audience and reach out to them about getting on their schedule. Ensure that when you speak, it’s not a sales pitch, instead view it as an opportunity to provide quality educational content to their members.
- Take that lunch or coffee. Networking is far cheaper and in many cases, more effective than advertising. Meet with centers-of-influence, those in your community who are well-connected and build that relationship. As you network, keep in mind that your success will largely be determined by your ability to also refer business to those that you meet with.
Shout Out LLC is a full-service marketing, public relations, and communications firm located in Knoxville, Tennessee and serving clients across the nation.
